Exploring Dinosaur Provincial Park is a unique experience | Caroline Mongrain

Sentinal Pass hike in the Rockies | Banff Lake Louise Tourism/Paul Zizka

Crossing the bridge to the foot of Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park | Kalaya Mckenzie

Alpine Meadows of the Canadian Rockies

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site | ©Travel Alberta / Roth & Ramberg

Bull moose in Kananaskis, Alberta | Travel Alberta

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Canadian Badlands and Rocky Mountains

Step into Alberta's Great Plains, search for dinosaur bones in the Badlands, and hike in the Canadian Rockies

Canada

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1 review

9 Days from

$4690 USD

Trip Code: CGA

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Essential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Duration

9 Days

Activities

4 day hikes

Accommodation

8 nights hotel

Meals

1 Dinner
7 Lunches
8 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading

3 / 10

Introductory

Trip highlights

Enjoy some of the best day hikes in the Canadian Rockies
Experience the Canadian Badlands
Learn about ancestral Indigenous hunting tradition of buffalo jumps
Explore Banff and the natural playground that surrounds it
Take in the views at scenic Lake Louise and its surrounding peaks and glaciers

Overview

For many, Alberta is all about the Great Plains, for others, the province is all about the Canadian Rockies. This itinerary provides the perfect mix of the scenic rural landscapes of the westernmost province of the prairie, and the aquamarine glacial lakes and majestic snow-capped mountains. Home to the third-largest Aboriginal population in Canada, your experience in Alberta includes historical significant sites like dinosaur fossil beds and buffalo jumps. As we leave the multi-hued canyons and wind-sculpted hoodoos of the Canadian Badlands, we go along the foothills of the mountains into Waterton Lakes. While the landscapes are spectacular, remember to also keep your eyes open for the abundant wildlife including bighorn sheep, grizzly bears and bison recently reintroduced in Alberta as a conservation project. From here we keep the mountain backdrop for scenic drives to some of the world’s best hiking trails in Banff & Yoho National Parks. We take a big dose of fresh air into endless forests, admiring the panoramic mountain views, turquoise colour of the glacier-fed lakes, and rainbows at the waterfalls.

Itinerary

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On arrival at Calgary Airport, we will meet you and transfer you to the group hotel. A trip briefing will take place in the hotel foyer at the time indicated in your final documents, where you will meet your fellow travellers.

Meals: Nil

From Calgary, we drive into the Canadian Badlands to Dinosaur Provincial Park, home to one of the world’s highest concentrations of dinosaur fossils. A guided interpretive tour of the park brings us 75 million years back as we walk in the footsteps of the dinosaurs. Over 50 species and more than 150 full dinosaur skeletons have been unearthed here! Besides being an archeologic gem, the sediments exposed in the badlands, the rock formations and hoodoos create out-of-this-world landscapes. After our visit, we head to the historic Patricia Hotel & Steak Pit to experience Western flavours.

Meals: B,L

Be ready for a change of scenery as we make our way to Waterton Lakes National Park. At the junction of the Great Plains and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, we stop at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the largest and most outstanding buffalo jumps in North America. The visit offers an introduction to the traditions and hunting practices of the Indigenous Plains peoples. We then continue to Waterton Lakes, where we will spend the next two nights.

Meals: B,L

Waterton Lakes National Park has a unique topography, including red rock canyons, hundreds of deep blue lakes, and bear grass (vegetation found nowhere else in the Rockies). There is abundant wildlife as well, including bighorn sheep, black bears, grizzly bears and even bison. Our hike today takes us to Upper Rowe Lakes. The trail passes through mature forest and an enchanting wildflower meadow. The final section is more challenging, but the views over the alpine lakes are well worth the effort. This evening, we head out on a wildlife viewing drive, including the Bison Paddock Loop Road. Herds have recently been reintroduced as part of an Indigenous-led conservation project supported by Parks Canada.

Meals: B,L

After breakfast, we drive into ranch country and the foothills of southern Alberta, making a short stop in Longview to sample some of Alberta’s best beef jerky. We then continue across Highwood Pass, the highest paved road in Canada, and through the amazing Kananaskis Country. The rugged, steep grey layers of the front ranges rise sharply before giving way as we enter Banff National Park. Snow-capped peaks form a dramatic backdrop to glacial lakes, fast-flowing rivers and expansive forests. The park’s vast wilderness is home to elk, deer, moose, caribou, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, black and grizzly bears, wolves and cougars.

Meals: B,L

Today’s hike will be one of our easiest and one of the most beautiful. We save most of the uphill walking by taking the Sunshine Meadows gondola into the alpine areas surrounding the Continental Divide. Our walk leads past three alpine lakes, wildflower meadows, and views stretching up to 50km/31mi in all directions.Take in the panoramic mountain views of the Canadian Rockies. An early afternoon finish leaves time to explore the town of Banff from our centrally located accommodation.

Meals: B,L

It’s a short drive from Banff to Yoho National Park, giving us plenty of time to explore along the way. We couldn’t visit the region without stopping at the world-famous Lake Louise. From the iconic Chateau Lake Louise, our hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers offers scenic views of the surrounding mountains, with a collection of impressive peaks and glaciers. After our walk, we stop at Moraine Lake before continuing west across the Continental Divide into British Columbia. Following the Kicking Horse River, we pass the spiral tunnels built for the railroad before arriving in Yoho National Park.

Meals: B,L

We begin our hike by following the path to the base of Takakkaw Falls, meaning “magnificent” in the Cree language, for close-up views of the falls. At 380m/1,250ft, it’s not every day you get to stand beneath a waterfall over 1,000 feet tall! We then follow the trail along the Yoho River to Laughing Falls. Along the way, we pass several notable waterfalls, including Angel’s Staircase and Point Lace Falls. After our hike, we stop in the historic hamlet of Field to admire the well-preserved buildings of this former mining town. This evening, share highlights of the trip with your fellow travellers over a farewell dinner.

Meals: B,L,D

After breakfast, the trip concludes with a transfer to Calgary.

Meals: B

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

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What's included?

Included

8 nights accommodation, double occupancy
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 1 dinner
Services of a local guide
Return airport group transfers
Private internal transportation during the trip
Guided tour at Dinosaur Provincial Park
All permits, sightseeing and park entrance fees

Not included

Flights
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Alcoholic beverages
Items of a personal nature
Tips and gratuities
Travel insurance
Applicable taxes of 5% for bookings made in North America